Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design
A recent study interrogating the ways in which municipal authorities in South Africa are governing their mobile communities demonstrated that there is potential for both conceptual innovation and methodological rigor when integrating the cross-cutting systems of migration and local governance. Howe...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of the Western Cape
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | African Human Mobility Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/786 |
| _version_ | 1818212289156743168 |
|---|---|
| author | Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa |
| author_facet | Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa |
| author_sort | Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
A recent study interrogating the ways in which municipal authorities in South Africa
are governing their mobile communities demonstrated that there is potential for both
conceptual innovation and methodological rigor when integrating the cross-cutting
systems of migration and local governance. However, this integration also posed a
number of challenges that were apparent both during the data collection phase, as well
as when the diagnostic tool was designed. The process of implementing this research
raised methodological and conceptual questions about how these two areas of work
intersect. This paper aims to reflect not on the results of the study itself, but on the
methodological process issues that can lay a foundation for a better understanding of
how to study the intersection of two interdisciplinary fields. This research took place
in five South African municipalities in Limpopo, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga, selected
because they reflect a broad spectrum of migration dynamics and demographic patterns.
An institutional ethnography approach was drawn on, which included mixed
methods fieldwork with document review, key stakeholder interviews, focus groups,
and community mapping took place in all five municipalities, taking an inductive approach
to developing a diagnostic tool, which was applied retrospectively based on the
data gathered. This paper found that resolving a number of divergent conceptual issues
is important to effectively interpret results around the intersection of the cross-cutting
fields of governance and migration. This methodological reflection is important on
its own, but it will also help ensure that future initiatives around strengthening local
governance, or making systems more responsive to the needs of migrants, are on solid
conceptual, methodological, and practical ground.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:46:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85bb380eb99144f89f2a9e68378ab2f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-6955 2410-7972 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:46:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Human Mobility Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-85bb380eb99144f89f2a9e68378ab2f82022-12-22T00:35:48ZengUniversity of the Western CapeAfrican Human Mobility Review2411-69552410-79722021-04-016110.14426/ahmr.v6i1.786786Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research DesignCaitlin Blaser Mapitsa0University of the Witwatersrand A recent study interrogating the ways in which municipal authorities in South Africa are governing their mobile communities demonstrated that there is potential for both conceptual innovation and methodological rigor when integrating the cross-cutting systems of migration and local governance. However, this integration also posed a number of challenges that were apparent both during the data collection phase, as well as when the diagnostic tool was designed. The process of implementing this research raised methodological and conceptual questions about how these two areas of work intersect. This paper aims to reflect not on the results of the study itself, but on the methodological process issues that can lay a foundation for a better understanding of how to study the intersection of two interdisciplinary fields. This research took place in five South African municipalities in Limpopo, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga, selected because they reflect a broad spectrum of migration dynamics and demographic patterns. An institutional ethnography approach was drawn on, which included mixed methods fieldwork with document review, key stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and community mapping took place in all five municipalities, taking an inductive approach to developing a diagnostic tool, which was applied retrospectively based on the data gathered. This paper found that resolving a number of divergent conceptual issues is important to effectively interpret results around the intersection of the cross-cutting fields of governance and migration. This methodological reflection is important on its own, but it will also help ensure that future initiatives around strengthening local governance, or making systems more responsive to the needs of migrants, are on solid conceptual, methodological, and practical ground. https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/786MigrationGovernanceResearch methodsUrbanisation |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design African Human Mobility Review Migration Governance Research methods Urbanisation |
| title | Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design |
| title_full | Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design |
| title_fullStr | Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design |
| title_short | Intersection of Migration and Local Governance: Lessons on Methods and Research Design |
| title_sort | intersection of migration and local governance lessons on methods and research design |
| topic | Migration Governance Research methods Urbanisation |
| url | https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/ahmr/article/view/786 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinblasermapitsa intersectionofmigrationandlocalgovernancelessonsonmethodsandresearchdesign |